(Image source from: bhf.org.uk)

A Spanish study claims that Vitamin D supplement can reduce severity of COVID-19 and can even reduce death risk.

A new study from Spain finds that administering high doses of Calcifediol which is a supplement of Vitamin D can help reduce the death risk in the severe coronavirus cases.

Calcifediol is a hormone produced in the liver by Vitamin D.

This study by Spanish researchers has been published in the Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular biology.

The study reveals that Calcifediol could have certain advantages over Vitamin D3 capsules, the supplements which are usually prescribed for Vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D3 is converted by the liver into Calcifediol but the direct intake of Calcifediol is beneficial as it restores the level of hormones in the blood rapidly.

The researchers say that Calcifediol is more likely to be absorbed by the body than Vitamin D3.

The study also reveals that direct administration of Calcifediol is more desirable for COVID-19 patients as the CYP2R1 enzyme which helps convert the vitamin D3 into more useful form is compromised in many of them.

Such impaired CYP2R1 enzyme activity has been well demonstrated in patients with chronic pulmonary disease or asthma.

Moreover, these Spanish researchers claim that Calcifediol is more potent when compared to oral consumption of Vitamin D3.

So, based on the research, Calcifediol must be provided to all CoVID patients who have respiratory or lung related symptoms according to the researchers.

However, experts from other countries who are conducting research on various aspects of COVID-19 are not satisfied with these results by the Spanish researchers.

By Gayatri Yellayi